Response of coagulation and anti-coagulant factors of elite athletes following acute resistance and high-intensity interval training

BACKGROUND: Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis include two vital physiological systems, which are regulated by a balance between activators and inhibitors. The aim of this study is to survey the response of coagulation and anticoagulant factors following acute resistance and high-intensity interval exercises. METHODS: This is an experimental study. The statistical sample was an elite group of karate males (aged 22.10 +/- 2.76 years, height 175.80 +/- 5.43 cm, mass 74.30 +/- 9.06 kg, body mass index 23.94 +/- 2.08 kg/m(2), body fat 16.36 +/- 4.42 percent, maximal oxygen uptake 58.77 +/- 2.47 mL/kg/min) who voluntarily participated in the study. Before and after each exercise, blood sampling was carried out in order to measure plasma volume changes, fibrinogen, factor VIII, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Decrease in plasma volume and fibrinogen following interval exercise was significantly higher than that of resistance exercise. The increase in Factor VIII and decrease in C-reactive protein and fibrinogen following interval exercise was considerably greater than after resistance exercise. Following each exercise, the decrease in prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and also increase in platelet count was significant. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that high-intensity interval exercise via increase in coagulation process and fortification of fibrinolysis system induces optimal coagulation and fibrinolysis balance; it seems that the decrease in anticoagulant process is essential for this balance.